d in a combination of Democrats and
conservative Republicans, giving Weed the vast patronage of the New
York canals.

[Footnote 875: New York _Tribune_, October 7, 1863.

The Democratic caucus stood 28 for Erastus Corning, 25 for Fernando
Wood, and scattering 18.

The vote of the Senate stood: Morgan, 23; Erastus Corning, 7; 2 absent
or silent. On the first ballot the Assembly gave Morgan 64, Corning
62, Fernando Wood 1, John A. Dix 1 (cast by Speaker Callicot). On a
second ballot all the Unionists voted with Callicot for Dix, giving
him 65 to 63 for Corning and placing him in nomination. In joint
convention Morgan was elected by 86 votes to 70 for Corning, one
(Callicot's) for Dix, and 1 for Dickinson.--_Ibid._, February 4.]

[Footnote 876: "My dear Weed: It is difficult for me to express my
personal obligations to you for this renewed evidence of your
friendship, as manifested by the result of yesterday's proceedings at
Albany."--Letter of Edwin D. Morgan, February 3, 1863. Thurlow Weed
Barnes, _Life of Thurlow Weed_, Vol. 2, p. 430.]

Perhaps it was only coincidental that Weed's withdrawal from the
_Evening Journal_ concurred with Morgan's election, but his farewell
editorial, written while gloom and despondency filled the land,
indicated that he unerringly read the signs of the times. "I differ
widely with my party about the best means of crushing the rebellion,"
he said. "I can neither impress others with my views nor surrender my
own solemn convictions. The alternative of living in strife with those
whom I have esteemed, or withdrawing, is presented. I have not
hesitated in choosing the path of peace as the path of duty. If those
who differ with me are right, and the country is carried safely
through its present struggle, all will be well and 'nobody
hurt.'"[877] This did not mean that Weed "has ceased to be a
Republican," as Greeley put it,[878] but that, while refusing to
become an Abolitionist of the Chase and Sumner and Greeley type, he
declined longer to urge his conservative views upon readers who
possessed the spirit of Radicals. Years afterward he wrote that "from
the outbreak of the rebellion, I knew no party, nor did I care for any
except the party of the Union."[879]

[Footnote 877: Albany _Evening Journal_, January 28, 1863.]

[Footnote 878: New York _Tribune_, January 30, 1863.]

[Footnote 879: Thurlow Weed Barnes, _Life of Thurlow Weed_, Vol. 2, p.
485.]

At the time of his retirement fro